And now it’s time for a new writing muse. I’ve found inspiration in some of the oddest places. This overgrown fountain (left) is located in downtown Dilsborro, North Carolina. I love how the fountain is covered in ivy, mainly because you can’t really see what is underneath. It sparks curiosity.

Finding inspiration in everyday items such as this is often as easy as asking yourself the six question words we learned in elementary school:

Who?

What?

When?

Where?

Why?

How?

What is underneath the ivy? A statue? Te secret to long last treasure engraved in the stones? A secret entrance to an underground laboratory? (We’re writers. The answer should never be boring.) Why was the fountain abandoned? Is it haunted? Did the owners die? When did that happen? Who might be involved? Possibly the caretaker knows a secret about the fountain that only a few in history have been privy to. Where can I locate this fountain in my story to create atmosphere? Why does this fountain matter? (Don’t mention the fountain if it doesn’t have a purpose.) How can my character unlock the secrets of this fountain?

Questions like these can ignite the spark that will become the backbone of your story. If you need inspiration, take this fountain make it your own. Unlock the story behind it, and let it unfold before your eyes. (Make sure to share what you did with it in the comments if you end up using it.)

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About M. B. Weston

M. B. Weston is an award-winning fantasy, pulp, young adult, steampunk, and paranormal author. Her attention to procedure and detail gives her works an authentic gritty, military feel that takes an adventure tale to the level of a true page-turner.
Weston’s writing attracts both fantasy and non-fantasy readers, and her audience ranges from upper-elementary students to adults. A gifted orator, Weston has been invited as a guest speaker to numerous writing and science fiction/fantasy panels at conventions across the US, including DragonCon, BabelCon, NecronomiCon, and Alabama Phoenix Festival. She has served on panels with such authors as Sherrilyn Kenyon, J. F. Lewis, Todd McCaffrey, and Jonathan Maberry. Weston has spoken to thousands of students and adults about the craft of writing and has been invited as the keynote speaker at youth camps and at several schools throughout the US.